Despite the roadblocks remaining from previous efforts, some Georgia lawmakers are hoping to make progress on sports betting legislation.
Rep. Matt Hatchett this week introduced his sports betting proposal, HB 910, which would legalise the industry under the Georgia Lottery. It is the same proposal that has been introduced in previous sessions. Last year, Hatchett’s bill did not move out of committee. HB 910 is assigned to the Higher Education Committee.
Hatchett’s legislation does not require a constitutional amendment, which some lawmakers believe is needed to legalise sports betting in Georgia. Bills both with and without a constitutional amendment provision have been considered over the past several years.
Because of various political issues, industry sources are mostly sour on Georgia’s potential this year. A House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia last year turned in a nine-page report with no recommendations. Key sports betting proponent Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who chaired that committee, resigned in October 2025.
While the gaming report did not make a recommendation, a Senate study committee on tourism did. It suggested that legalised sports betting could help lure major events to the state.
“It was a simple recommendation much like the rest of the list,” Senator Drew Echols, chairman of the committee, told The Center Square. “The recommendations are just that. Hard to say how many if any of the recommendations will come to fruition.”
Proposed Georgia sports betting framework
Hatchett’s bill would authorize up to 18 sportsbooks in the state. The Georgia Lottery would regulate the industry. Sportsbooks would pay a $1.5 million annual licence fee and the state would tax sports betting revenue at 25%.
The Georgia Lottery would receive its own licence and could award seven licences following a public process.
HB 910 also allocates 10 licences to the following:
- MLB’s Atlanta Braves
- WNBA’s Atlanta Dream
- NFL’s Atlanta Falcons
- NBA’s Atlanta Hawks
- Atlanta Motor Speedway
- MLS’s Atlanta United FC
- Augusta National Golf Course
- PGA Tour
- Two for National Steeplechase Association entities
Political headwinds persist though a Senate tourism panel endorsed sports betting to attract events.